The great composers of the 20th century North America
Gershwin or Goldsmith? Hindemith or Copland? It is difficult for inquiring minds to tackle such abundant fields as classical music and opera, covering 10 centuries of history: there are thousands of composers. Making a selection of musicians, such as a “top 10” for example, is a difficult and subjective exercise. A musical selection is often the expression of personal preferences or artistic opinions, very interesting but also very different according to critics or musicologists, or simply influenced by the context: will an English composer not be instinctively privileged by an English critic?
For example: in France, Charles Gounod, a 19th century French composer, is more easily mentioned than the Norwegian Edvard Grieg, who is more recognized in the world.
Timeline of classical music composers, between 1890 and 2000+ (modern & contemporary era) in North America
Whoever wants to discover classical music or opera does not always have an experienced music lover, an expert or an educator at his or her side to support and guide him or her in these fields. So : Gershwin (American composer and pianist (1898–1937)) or Goldsmith (American film composer (1929–2004)) ? Kálmán (Hungarian-born composer of operettas) or Rózsa (Hungarian-American composer (1907–1995)) ? However, the knowledge available about musicians is enormous. It was processed to select the 10, 25, 50... most popular composers around the world, for those living or having lived en North America, between 1890 and 2000+ (modern & contemporary era). And this objectively, and for the first time (soclassiq exclusivity).
Composers rendered as a timeline to bring a little perspective:
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ComposersConductorsLyrical singersPerformers 2024
This timeline is interactive to navigate through the ages , or eras : medieval music, renaissance, baroque music (Bach...), classical period (Mozart...), romantic music (Beethoven...), XXth (Stravinsky), or across continents (with ).
Top 10 classical musiccomposers in North America for the years 1890-2000+
Who are these greatest composers, the most famous over the 1890-2000+ era in North America? The works of these musician have shaped the history of classical music and lyric art. There are those you probably know, or at least by name and the others.
Here are these 10 classical music composers, renowned artists from around the world:
Curious to know their most emblematic works? Just a click away to discover them.
The selections of musicians (classical music composers) proposed by soclassiq are based exclusively on algorithms. The same applies to their works, the performers, the lyrical singers, les orchestras, the conductors and the venues : opera houses, concert halls or festivals.
What about the others? 25, 50 or more?
Summarizing to 10 musician names such a wide and diverse field may seem extreme or too simplistic for those who know classical music and lyrical art well, for those who can easily name 50 or more classical music composers. Bernstein, Stravinsky, Horowitz, Horner, Glass, Kreisler, Williams...
At this time, soclassiq has listed more than 19000 composers. So here is a selection of some composers for the modern & contemporary era, in North America, widely recognized around the world:
Note:
- This selection may include highly reputed artists and musicians who have occasionally devoted themselves to classical music and not exclusively.
- It may also include composers who have been or are concert performers, some more renowned for their careers than for the work they have left behind.
Paul Abraham The great composers of the 20th century
1892-1960 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Mark Adamo The great composers of the 20th century
age 62 (20th century)
Composer
John Luther Adams The great composers of the 20th century
age 71 (20th century)
Composer
John Adams The great composers of the 20th century
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Samuel Adler The great composers of the 20th century
age 96 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Theodor W. Adorno The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1969 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Emma Albani The great composers of the 20th century
1847-1930 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer & Composer
John Alden Carpenter The great composers of the 20th century
1876-1951 (20th century)
Composer
Leroy Anderson The great composers of the 20th century
1908-1975 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
George Antheil The great composers of the 20th century
1900-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Desi Arnaz The great composers of the 20th century
1917-1986 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Leopold von Auer The great composers of the 20th century
1845-1930 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Emilie Autumn The great composers of the 20th century
age 44 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Milton Babbitt The great composers of the 20th century
1916-2011 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Angelo Badalamenti The great composers of the 20th century
1937-2022 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Samuel Barber The great composers of the 20th century
1910-1981 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
John Barry The great composers of the 20th century
1933-2011 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Béla Bartók The great composers of the 20th century
1881-1945 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Amy Beach The great composers of the 20th century
1867-1944 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Joshua Bell The great composers of the 20th century
age 56 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Cathy Berberian The great composers of the 20th century
1925-1983 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Elmer Bernstein The great composers of the 20th century
1922-2004 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leonard Bernstein The great composers of the 20th century
1918-1990 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Ernest Bloch The great composers of the 20th century
1880-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
William Bolcom The great composers of the 20th century
age 85 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Victor Borge The great composers of the 20th century
1909-2000 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Paul Bowles The great composers of the 20th century
1910-1999 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Glenn Branca The great composers of the 20th century
1948-2018 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Bruce Broughton The great composers of the 20th century
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leo Brouwer The great composers of the 20th century
1939-2003 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Adolf Busch The great composers of the 20th century
1891-1952 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Cage The great composers of the 20th century
1912-1992 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Hoagy Carmichael The great composers of the 20th century
1899-1981 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Elliott Carter The great composers of the 20th century
1908-2012 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco The great composers of the 20th century
1895-1968 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Whitefield Chadwick The great composers of the 20th century
1854-1931 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Carlos Chávez The great composers of the 20th century
1899-1978 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Gloria Coates The great composers of the 20th century
1933-2023 (20th century)
Composer
Aaron Copland The great composers of the 20th century
1900-1990 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Anton Coppola The great composers of the 20th century
1917-2020 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carmine Coppola The great composers of the 20th century
1910-1991 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
John Corigliano The great composers of the 20th century
age 86 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Henry Cowell The great composers of the 20th century
1897-1965 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ruth Crawford Seeger The great composers of the 20th century
1901-1953 (20th century)
Composer
George Crumb The great composers of the 20th century
1929-2022 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Walter Damrosch The great composers of the 20th century
1862-1950 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Bella Davidovich The great composers of the 20th century
age 95 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Carl Davis The great composers of the 20th century
1936-2023 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Don Davis The great composers of the 20th century
age 67 (20th century)
Composer
Norman Dello Joio The great composers of the 20th century
1913-2008 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
David Diamond The great composers of the 20th century
1915-2005 (20th century)
Composer
Antal Doráti The great composers of the 20th century
1906-1988 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Vernon Duke The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1969 (20th century)
Composer
Alfred Einstein The great composers of the 20th century
1880-1952 (20th century)
Composer
Hanns Eisler The great composers of the 20th century
1898-1962 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Danny Elfman The great composers of the 20th century
age 70 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Morton Feldman The great composers of the 20th century
1926-1987 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Arthur Fiedler The great composers of the 20th century
1894-1979 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carlisle Floyd The great composers of the 20th century
1926-2021 (20th century)
Composer
Lukas Foss The great composers of the 20th century
1922-2009 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
David Foster The great composers of the 20th century
age 74 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Florence Foster Jenkins The great composers of the 20th century
1868-1944 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Ivan Galamian The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1981 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Diamanda Galás The great composers of the 20th century
age 68 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
George Gershwin The great composers of the 20th century
1898-1937 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Michael Giacchino The great composers of the 20th century
age 56 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Philip Glass The great composers of the 20th century
age 87 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Leopold Godowsky The great composers of the 20th century
1870-1938 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Elliot Goldenthal The great composers of the 20th century
age 69 (20th century)
Composer
Jerry Goldsmith The great composers of the 20th century
1929-2004 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Morton Gould The great composers of the 20th century
1913-1996 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Glenn Gould The great composers of the 20th century
1932-1982 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Percy Grainger The great composers of the 20th century
1882-1961 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
William Grant Still The great composers of the 20th century
1895-1978 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Alexander Gretchaninov The great composers of the 20th century
1864-1956 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Marc-André Hamelin The great composers of the 20th century
age 62 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Marvin Hamlisch The great composers of the 20th century
1944-2012 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
W. C. Handy The great composers of the 20th century
1873-1958 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Howard Hanson The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1981 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Roy Harris The great composers of the 20th century
1898-1979 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Victor Herbert The great composers of the 20th century
1859-1924 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Bernard Herrmann The great composers of the 20th century
1911-1975 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Jennifer Higdon The great composers of the 20th century
age 61 (20th century)
Composer
Paul Hindemith The great composers of the 20th century
1895-1963 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Josef Hofmann The great composers of the 20th century
1876-1957 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
James Horner The great composers of the 20th century
1953-2015 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Vladimir Horowitz The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1989 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Alan Hovhaness The great composers of the 20th century
1911-2000 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
James Newton Howard The great composers of the 20th century
age 72 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Karel Husa The great composers of the 20th century
1921-2016 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Eugene Istomin The great composers of the 20th century
1925-2003 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Charles Ives The great composers of the 20th century
1874-1954 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Byron Janis The great composers of the 20th century
age 95 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Kristjan Järvi The great composers of the 20th century
age 51 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Scott Joplin The great composers of the 20th century
1868-1917 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Emmerich Kálmán The great composers of the 20th century
1882-1953 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Ramin Karimloo The great composers of the 20th century
age 45 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Composer
Jerome Kern The great composers of the 20th century
1885-1945 (20th century)
Composer
Henry Kimball Hadley The great composers of the 20th century
1871-1937 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Gershon Kingsley The great composers of the 20th century
1922-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Erich Wolfgang Korngold The great composers of the 20th century
1897-1957 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Serge Koussevitzky The great composers of the 20th century
1874-1951 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Fritz Kreisler The great composers of the 20th century
1875-1962 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ernst Krenek The great composers of the 20th century
1900-1991 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Giorgi Latsabidze The great composers of the 20th century
age 45 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Morten Lauridsen The great composers of the 20th century
age 81 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Calixa Lavallée The great composers of the 20th century
1842-1891 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Ernesto Lecuona The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1963 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Michel Legrand The great composers of the 20th century
1932-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Oscar Levant The great composers of the 20th century
1906-1972 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Kate Liu The great composers of the 20th century
age 29 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Frederick Loewe The great composers of the 20th century
1901-1988 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Arkady Luxemburg The great composers of the 20th century
age 84 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Yo-Yo Ma The great composers of the 20th century
age 68 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Lorin Maazel The great composers of the 20th century
1930-2014 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Edward MacDowell The great composers of the 20th century
1860-1908 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Alma Mahler The great composers of the 20th century
1879-1964 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Henry Mancini The great composers of the 20th century
1924-1994 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Arturo Márquez The great composers of the 20th century
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Wynton Marsalis The great composers of the 20th century
age 62 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Charles Martin Loeffler The great composers of the 20th century
1861-1935 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Bohuslav Martinů The great composers of the 20th century
1890-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Eduardo Mata The great composers of the 20th century
1942-1995 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Dimitri Mitropoulos The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1960 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Gabriela Montero The great composers of the 20th century
age 53 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Nico Muhly The great composers of the 20th century
age 42 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Conlon Nancarrow The great composers of the 20th century
1912-1997 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Randy Newman The great composers of the 20th century
age 80 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Ervin Nyiregyházi The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1987 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Garrick Ohlsson The great composers of the 20th century
age 75 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ignacy Jan Paderewski The great composers of the 20th century
1860-1941 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Knowles Paine The great composers of the 20th century
1839-1906 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Horatio Parker The great composers of the 20th century
1863-1919 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Harry Partch The great composers of the 20th century
1901-1974 (20th century)
Composer
Gregor Piatigorsky The great composers of the 20th century
1903-1976 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Walter Piston The great composers of the 20th century
1894-1976 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Manuel Ponce The great composers of the 20th century
1886-1948 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
André Previn The great composers of the 20th century
1929-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carlos Puebla The great composers of the 20th century
1917-1989 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Sergei Rachmaninoff The great composers of the 20th century
1873-1943 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Steve Reich The great composers of the 20th century
age 87 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Fritz Reiner The great composers of the 20th century
1888-1963 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Silvestre Revueltas The great composers of the 20th century
1899-1940 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Wallingford Riegger The great composers of the 20th century
1885-1961 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Terry Riley The great composers of the 20th century
age 88 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Rochberg The great composers of the 20th century
1918-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Clara Rockmore The great composers of the 20th century
1911-1998 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Richard Rodgers The great composers of the 20th century
1902-1979 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Sigmund Romberg The great composers of the 20th century
1887-1951 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Juventino Rosas The great composers of the 20th century
1868-1894 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Miklós Rózsa The great composers of the 20th century
1907-1995 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carl Ruggles The great composers of the 20th century
1876-1971 (20th century)
Composer
Robert Russell Bennett The great composers of the 20th century
1894-1981 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Frederic Rzewski The great composers of the 20th century
1938-2021 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Curt Sachs The great composers of the 20th century
1881-1959 (20th century)
Composer
Lalo Schifrin The great composers of the 20th century
age 91 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Thomas Schippers The great composers of the 20th century
1930-1977 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Arnold Schoenberg The great composers of the 20th century
1874-1951 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Gunther Schuller The great composers of the 20th century
1925-2015 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
William Schuman The great composers of the 20th century
1910-1992 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Roger Sessions The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1985 (20th century)
Composer
Anoushka Shankar The great composers of the 20th century
age 42 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Howard Shore The great composers of the 20th century
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Alexander Siloti The great composers of the 20th century
1863-1945 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leonard Slatkin The great composers of the 20th century
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Nicolas Slonimsky The great composers of the 20th century
1894-1995 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Dang Thai Son The great composers of the 20th century
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Stephen Sondheim The great composers of the 20th century
1930-2021 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Philip Sousa The great composers of the 20th century
1854-1932 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Max Steiner The great composers of the 20th century
1888-1971 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Jim Steinman The great composers of the 20th century
1947-2021 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Eduard Steuermann The great composers of the 20th century
1892-1964 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Fritz Stiedry The great composers of the 20th century
1883-1968 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Igor Stravinsky The great composers of the 20th century
1882-1971 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Alexei Sultanov The great composers of the 20th century
1969-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Szell The great composers of the 20th century
1897-1970 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Albert Szirmai The great composers of the 20th century
1880-1967 (20th century)
Composer
Alexander Tcherepnin The great composers of the 20th century
1899-1977 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Randall Thompson The great composers of the 20th century
1899-1984 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Virgil Thomson The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1989 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Michael Tilson Thomas The great composers of the 20th century
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Dimitri Tiomkin The great composers of the 20th century
1894-1979 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Charles Tomlinson Griffes The great composers of the 20th century
1884-1920 (20th century)
Composer
David Tudor The great composers of the 20th century
1926-1996 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Brian Tyler The great composers of the 20th century
age 51 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Frank Van der Stucken The great composers of the 20th century
1858-1929 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Claude Vivier The great composers of the 20th century
1948-1983 (20th century)
Composer
Rufus Wainwright The great composers of the 20th century
age 50 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Kurt Weill The great composers of the 20th century
1900-1950 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Jaromír Weinberger The great composers of the 20th century
1896-1967 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Chou Wen-chung The great composers of the 20th century
1923-2019 (20th century)
Composer
John Williams The great composers of the 20th century
age 92 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Paul Wittgenstein The great composers of the 20th century
1887-1961 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Stefan Wolpe The great composers of the 20th century
1902-1972 (20th century)
Composer
Charles Wuorinen The great composers of the 20th century
1938-2020 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Christopher Young The great composers of the 20th century
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
La Monte Young The great composers of the 20th century
age 88 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Efrem Zimbalist The great composers of the 20th century
1889-1985 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Hans Zimmer The great composers of the 20th century
age 66 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Zorn The great composers of the 20th century
age 70 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
See also...
Timelines : Composers
- 10 centuries of classical music
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- The beginnings of classical music, 1000 ... 1500
- The rise of classical music, 1500 ... 2000
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- Medieval * Renaissance * Baroque * Classical * Romantic * XXe
- Romantic : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- XXe : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1400 - 1500 : The 15th-century classical music composers
- 1500 - 1600 : The 16th-century classical music composers
- 1600 - 1700 : The 17th-century classical music composers + ( 1600 - 1650 ) + ( 1650 - 1700 )
- 1700 - 1800 : The 18th-century classical music composers + ( 1700 - 1750 ) + ( 1750 - 1800 )
- 1800 - 1900 : The 19th-century classical music composers
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1800 - 1850 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1850 - 1900 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1900 - 2000 : The 20th-century classical music composers
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1900 - 1950 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1950 - 2000 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
Indexes
- All composers : by era * by country
- by alphabetical order : A * B * C * D * E * F * G * H * I * J * K * L * M * N * O * P * Q * R * S * T * U * V * W * X * Y * Z
- Young artists (Composers)
Other timelines
Commemorations 2024, 2025, ...
Last update : 2024-03-10